When Words Fail

by Jill

"There are times when silence has the loudest voice."
- Leroy Brownlow

Today Is Mine

Chapter 4

After a meal in the hotel dining room, Jimmy and Ike roam the fort, looking here and there and Ike helping Jimmy learn more signs. Jimmy finds this sign language thing much harder than it looks, and some of his mistakes are quite comical, but Ike is impressed that Jimmy even wants to learn, and more amazed that he attempts to sign back. Ike desperately holds back his grin as he watches Jimmy's face screw up in intense concentration every time he tries to sign something. But when Jimmy mistakenly signs that he thinks a young lady's face looks like a "cabbage", Ike can't contain his mirth anymore, and bursts out into his silent laughter as he explains to his friend the correct way to sign "pretty". Jimmy immediately declares the lesson done for the day, and suggests it's time to return to the hotel. By the time they get back it's dark, and the streets are almost empty.

"I don't know 'bout you, Ike, but I'm gonna turn in. We got a long ride tomorrow ta get back to Sweetwater," Jimmy says and turns to Ike. "You comin'?"

<I think I'll stay out a bit longer,> Ike signs. The cool, night air feels good to him and he is still trying to clear his mind of what happened earlier in the Saloon.

"See ya in the morning, then," Jimmy tells him.

Ike nods and Jimmy goes into the hotel. For awhile, Ike stays on the hotel steps, looking out into the night, his thoughts on that afternoon. Memories have been running through his mind ever since he left the saloon, stirred up by the bartenders remarks. Memories of all the other times he has been rejected because of his lack of speech or hair. Even though he's been dealing with this sort of cruelty for most of his life, it still hurts every time it happens. To the world and especially the other riders, he tries not to let it show, but deep down the truth is that he hates being a "freak." He wishes Buck were here to talk to. He'd understand; not only the signs Ike uses, but everything he doesn't say as well.
Not finding much solace on the steps, Ike decides to walk over to the livery stable and check on the horses. He always feels calmer around animals. They don't demand that he speak to them, or ridicule him because of his bald head. They accept him for who he is, just Ike.

The stable is warm and misty from the breath and body heat of the animals. The sweet, crisp sent of fresh hay is mixed with the pungent odor of manure in a combination that most people would find distasteful, but to Ike it's welcoming. It signifies that he's in a safe environment, one where he's on equal footing. Finding his horse, Ike starts to rub him softly, attempting to sooth both the animal and his own feelings. His strong hands gently caress the animal, shining the glossy coat and communicating his love for the horse without the need of any words. He is so absorbed in what he is doing that he doesn't even notice the person who comes up behind him.

"Drop yer gun, put yer hands in the air, an' turn around," a threatening voice demands.

Startled, Ike jumps slightly and then as the meaning of the words sink in, he leans his head against his mount and closes his eyes for a second in disbelief over his luck for the day. Sighing deeply, he carefully drops his gun on the ground, raises his hands above his head, and turns around. Before him is a short but beefy man with a cold stare and a gun trained on him.

"Why don't ya saddle up yer horse there, boy. Me 'n you er goin' fer a ride."

Ike just stares at the man in defiance.

"I said move! I've killed so many men that killin' a boy like you wouldn't make me lose no sleep," the man growls in a cold tone as he cocks the gun.

Seeing no other option, Ike does what the man asks, although he has no idea what this man wants from him. Right now he just reasons it will be easier to think of a way out of this mess if he's alive rather than dead. Reluctantly, he turns and starts to saddle his horse.

"Here's the plan, boy. You 'n me er gonna ride on outa this town. Don't you try anything er say a word, 'cause if ya do you'll be dead quicker than ya could count ta three. I got a friend outside a town that's real anxious ta meet ya, and he'd be very diserpointed if I had ta kill ya."

The man motions with his gun for Ike to mount his horse, and Ike has no choice but to comply. After placing a piece of paper in a prominent place by the stall, Ike's abductor mounts his own horse.

"Remember what I told ya, boy," he snarls meaningfully.

They start down the streets of the now nearly deserted town. Ike's mind is reeling, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation, but they reach the edge of town before he has come up with anything. After proceeding for about ten more minutes, they are met by a group of four men.

"You sure you got the right boy?" the leader of the group (Terry) asks the man with Ike. Two of the other men dismount and come over to Ike while Terry is speaking. Roughly, they pull him off his horse, upsetting his hat, and stand holding his arms so he can't go anywhere.

"Yeah, this is the one," the man (Johnson) replies.

Terry walks over in front of Ike and studies him carefully, his eyes lingering with cruel interest on Ike's bandanna covered head. Ike stares boldly back.

"Well boy, I'm real glad you could make it tonight," he says with an evil laugh. "You're going to be extremely helpful to me." Terry then turns back to Johnson. "Did you leave the note for Hickok?"

"Yeah, he can't miss it," Johnson answers.

"Good. He and I have some unfinished business."

Ike suddenly realizes what is happening. He is being used as bait for Jimmy! He can't let that happen! Somehow he has to get lose, warn him, do something! He struggles fiercely against the men holding him, desperate to break free, but he is struck hard in the face by Terry. Momentarily stunned, he stops struggling as a trickle of blood starts to run from the corner of his mouth.

"I don't have time for any games, boy!" Terry snarls at Ike. "Tie his hands behind him," he commands his men, "And get him up on his horse. We have a lot of ground to cover tonight." Ike's hands are secured roughly behind his back and he is literally shoved up on his horse. As each second passes, he's getting more frantic. How can he warn Jimmy? He has to stop this! But what can he do? With his hands tied he's helpless, he can't even control his own horse! He's forced to watch angrily as Terry rides up and gathers the reigns of Ike's horse with his own.

"Don't even think about doing anything foolish," Terry tells him. The men kick their horses into motion and leading Ike's, head out in the direction Ike and Jimmy had come only hours before.

They ride for hours, all through the night, and before long Ike is exhausted. He has already made one long ride today and now he's on another, with no sleep in between. His legs have begun to ache and it's getting increasingly difficult for him to balance in the saddle without his hands. The ropes around his wrists are digging painfully into the skin, but Ike is determined not to let Terry or his men see this. He sits as tall as he is able and makes his face an unreadable mask.

It's starting to get light before they finally stop in a small canyon. Ike notices that it's very rocky, but there are still several trees clustered here and there. He barely has time to look around though, before he is pulled from his horse and dragged over to where Terry is standing. He has to fight to stay on his feet, his legs feeling like noodles after so many hours of riding.

"Flint," Terry summons one of the men, "Go back to the mouth of the canyon and watch. As soon as you see Hickok coming get back here and let me know."

Flint nods and remounts, riding back the way they came.

Ike is standing before Terry, his hands still bound, with two men on either side watching him for the slightest move. When Terry turns back to Ike his face is a mask of fake pleasantness.

"Well, boy, this is where we wait for your friend Hickok," he says, his voice dripping with ill-concealed cruelty. Ike glares at him, horror and anger at what this man is doing etched on his face.

"Since we're going to be here awhile," Terry goes on in slimy congeniality, "Why don't you tell me your name so we can get better acquainted?"
Ike just continues to stare at him. 'Even if I could tell you my name, I wouldn't,' he thinks to himself. But with his hands tied he has no way to even try and communicate.

"I asked you what your name is!" Terry growls, losing all his feigned friendliness.

Still Ike doesn't answer. The next second, Ike gets a fist in his stomach that causes him to double over and fall to the ground. He lies there trying to get his breath back, but before he can Terry hits him again, this time in the face.

"I don't like it when people don't answer me! What is your name!?!"

Ike, in pain on the dirt, doesn't know what to do. He can't even try to sign to this man. He has no choice but to remain silent, even though he knows it will only anger him further.

Ralph Terry looks down at his prisoner and for just a moment he hesitates. Lying on the ground, he looks so young, just a boy really, and despite his attempts to hide it, fear and vulnerability are in his eyes. For a split second, Terry sees the boy he once was, crouching and waiting for the next blow, the same expression in his own eyes. As soon as he feels it, however, the compassion is replaced by boiling anger, anger at himself for being weak; and he directs all that rage at the boy before him. Terry is in control here, is ALWAYS in control, and it's time to teach his prisoner that! After all, no one said he had to wait for Hickok to get there to begin his fun. No one, man or boy, gets away without answering Ralph Terry!

Savagely, Terry grabs the front of Ike's shirt and pulls him up so that Ike's face is only inches from his. Ike can smell his foul breath and see the depth of malic in his eyes that even a handsome face can't hide. He shudders inwardly as he realizes just how evil and cruel this man is.

"You think you are going to be a tough one do you? Some sort of hero, right? Well let me tell you something, boy. You are going to tell me your name and all about yourself and your friend Hickok and anything else I decide I want to know. It would be better for you if you do it willingly, but if you don't I have ways of making you come around to my way of thinking. They aren't very pleasant though, if you catch my meaning. But you decide, because we have a lot of time to kill before Hickok gets here and I might like a little excitement."

Having said this, Terry drops Ike back on the ground. Ike knows he is in way over his head, now. He closes his eyes as he lies there, wishing this was just another nightmare he could wake up from, but it isn't. The metallic taste of his own blood is in his mouth from the last blow Terry gave him, and Ike knows he is very much awake. He is also intensely aware that this is where things are going to turn ugly.

To chapter 5